Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hamilton, George Alexander to Rogers, Frederic 2 April 1861, CO 305:18, no. 2972, 300.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Hamilton writes Rogers, on behalf of the Treasury, to ask
Newcastle to address some confusion regarding two authorized expenditures of £1,000 each: one
intended to fund the construction
of a temporary barracks on San Juan Island and the other to provide the marines stationed
there with extra pay. The lengthy minutes describe
the series of events which led to the requirement for extra pay and the documents
enclosed with the despatch show this cost was eventually covered by the
Treasury.
Hamilton to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
2 April 1861
With reference to your letter of the 27th February last,
transmitting copy of a Despatch from the Governor of Vancouvers Island enclosing
Bill of Exchange for £1000 on account of Troops occupying San Juan, I
am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majestys Treasury to
request that you will state to the Duke of Newcastle that the sum of
£1000 mentioned in the Despatch from the Governor of Vancouvers Island No 48 of 14 November last is stated to be required for extra
pay of Marines at San Juan and appears to have no referenceto
to
the similar amount reported in the Despatch No 43 of 8 October
enclosed in your letter of the 8th December last—the latter having
been applied for on account of the erection of Temporary Barracks at
San Juan.
to
the similar amount reported in the Despatch No 43 of 8 October
enclosed in your letter of the 8th December last—the latter having
been applied for on account of the erection of Temporary Barracks at
San Juan.
I am directed to enclose herewith copy of a letter from the War
Office of 1 January and of the reply thereto of [11] January relating to
the Barracks, and I am to request that you will move the [His]
Grace to inform My Lords whether any arrangement has been made in
regard to the Funds from which the extra pay of the Marines is to be
defrayed.
Minutes by CO staff
See minute attached.
Mr Fortescue
The Treasury are right in what they point out. This is in fact a fresh complication arising out of the very peculiar and anomalous circumstances connected with the detachment of the Royal Marines transferred from China to British Columbia.
The Treasury are right in what they point out. This is in fact a fresh complication arising out of the very peculiar and anomalous circumstances connected with the detachment of the Royal Marines transferred from China to British Columbia.
You will of course remember that owing to the high cost of living and
to their having volunteered they were to be allowed higher pay. We
authorized double pay, but in the meantime they had been receiving
much higher pay on account of executing public works.
On hearing of it the Duke of Newcastle sanctioned that higher pay for
so long as theyremained
remained in British Columbia. But they were
transferred to San Juan and hitherto we have not known what they were
receiving there.
remained in British Columbia. But they were
transferred to San Juan and hitherto we have not known what they were
receiving there.
But it now appears that in virtue of the first authority to give them
double pay, the governor has accordingly drawn for that amount for
the time subsequent to their leaving off public works and being
stationed at San Juan.
Considering that the place is doubtless dear, and that the officers
and men are detained there, as we have been distinctly apprized,
contrary to the rules and practiceof
of their service, I think that it
must be desirable and almost indispensable, to give them some such
premium in order to reconcile them to a duty lying beyond their
proper sphere of service.
of their service, I think that it
must be desirable and almost indispensable, to give them some such
premium in order to reconcile them to a duty lying beyond their
proper sphere of service.
Where is the money to come from? The Admiralty will assuredly not
pay, for they have long been remonstrating against the detention of
this detachment. And moreover, as was submitted on a former
occasion, it would probably create confusion and discontent if they
issued different rates of pay from Naval funds to any portions of the
Naval Forces. The War office might be invited to pay on the ground
that they have not been called upon to find troops for this unusualexigency
Exigency, and that the Marines form a substitute. But still we
should have great opposition there to paying a naval force from
Military Funds. Can the Colony be asked to pay? We have remarked in
former minutes that it is hardly fair to ask a particular locality to
defray the Charge of an international dispute between England and a
Foreign Power.
Exigency, and that the Marines form a substitute. But still we
should have great opposition there to paying a naval force from
Military Funds. Can the Colony be asked to pay? We have remarked in
former minutes that it is hardly fair to ask a particular locality to
defray the Charge of an international dispute between England and a
Foreign Power.
The amount is small but the principle is large, and this is my excuse
for the length of the present minute. On the whole I am inclined to
believe that the best issue from the difficulties will be to introduce
a special item on the B. Columbia Estimate to defray the Extra pay of
the Royal Marines.
Duke of Newcastle
The Colonial Office had nothing directly to do with sending these Marines to San Juan. It was the result of a diplomatic arrangement between the F.O. and the U.S. Govt acc[ording] to wh. the island was to be occupied by an equal military force of both nations. The substitution of Marines for Troops of the Line was only a matter of accident & convenience. I would therefore inform the Try that you considered this a military expenditure, which sh. be borne upon the Army Estimates—or defrayed by the War Department.
The Colonial Office had nothing directly to do with sending these Marines to San Juan. It was the result of a diplomatic arrangement between the F.O. and the U.S. Govt acc[ording] to wh. the island was to be occupied by an equal military force of both nations. The substitution of Marines for Troops of the Line was only a matter of accident & convenience. I would therefore inform the Try that you considered this a military expenditure, which sh. be borne upon the Army Estimates—or defrayed by the War Department.
I believe that extra pay for Marines employed on special services on
shore—as in the China war—has before now been so defrayed.
CF
12
I am not aware of any such precedent as Mr Fortescue mentions for
paying Marines when serving on shore out of Army Estimates. If there
is such a precedent it may be followed in this case, but if not I
feel assured that the W.O. will resist a proposal to make one on the
present occasion.
Perhaps the better course will be to suggest it to the
Treasury—observing at the same time that the alternative is a
special vote on the Columbia Estimate. I suspect this will prove to
be the only available course.
N
13
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
B. Hawes, War Office, to Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, 1 January 1861, requesting sanction for payment of the barracks
expenditure.
